Oscar Lorenzo Fernández was a Brazilian composer of Spanish descent, known for his significant contributions to Brazilian classical music. Born and died in Rio de Janeiro, he studied at the Instituto Nacional de Música under notable mentors like Francisco Braga and Henrique Oswald. In 1925, Fernández became a permanent professor of upper-level harmony, and in 1936, he founded the Conservatório Brasileiro de Música in Rio de Janeiro, which he directed until his death. He also taught choral singing at the Conservatório Nacional de Canto Orfeônico starting in 1939. Fernández's composition "Reisado do Pastoreio" in 1930, particularly the movement "Batuque," gained widespread popularity. His three-act opera "Malazarte," composed between 1931 and 1933, was adapted from a play by José Pereira Graça Aranha and premiered in Italian at the Teatro Municipal in Rio de Janeiro in 1941. This opera is notable for being the first successful Brazilian nationalist opera, blending local themes and musical styles. Beyond "Malazarte" and "Reisado do Pastoreio," Fernández's oeuvre includes a ballet, two symphonies, five symphonic poems, two orchestral suites, concertos for piano and violin, chamber music, numerous piano pieces, choral works, and 36 songs. His extensive body of work highlights his versatility and dedication to integrating Brazilian cultural elements into classical music.